Last CAE 1 Lesson

Last CAE 1 Lesson

Speaking Activity

•  Get into groups of three or four 
• You are going to climb a mountain together and it could take two or three days. 
• Talk in your groups about what problems and dangers might occur on this kind of trip.

• Now, with these dangers in mind, come up with a list of the most important things you need to take with you
• Each group works on their own list and has three minutes to write down up to twelve things. This includes supplies, equipment and anything else they may need.

Next, prioritise and decide what you are each going to take in your backpacks on the adventure. 

• Students in groups of three can take three items each. Those in groups of four can only take two each. This isn’t affected by scale: one student can take all the food and water they need as their two items, while another could take a torch and some rope.
• Write down the two or three items they are carrying.

How to play

You have two dice, one person rolls them. Then, looks up the results on the worksheet and reads the first part (but don’t read the part written in italics yet). For example:

Dice results - 

 

Students talk together in their groups about what they should do. They can be as inventive and creative as they like, but it’s important that they come to an agreement. Remind them that they can use any of the items they packed with them.

After a few minutes ask each group to tell you their decision. Explain that whoever has the worksheet and the dice is the storyteller, and they decide whether the plan works or not. For each group, tell them what happens next in their story.

The temperature is dropping steadily. What can you do to keep warm?

Talk together in your groups about what you should do. Be as inventive and creative as you like, but it’s important that you come to an agreement. Remember: you can use any of the items you packed with you.

After a few minutes ask each group to tell you their decision. Explain that whoever has the worksheet and the dice is the storyteller, and they decide whether the plan works or not. For each group, tell them what happens next in their story.

In our example one group decides to put on the extra clothing that they had packed, and to walk quickly to keep themselves warm. I tell them that this works well and they are able to continue up the mountain at a good pace, despite the harsh environment.

After a few minutes ask each group to tell you their decision. Explain that whoever has the worksheet and the dice is the storyteller, and they decide whether the plan works or not. For each group, tell them what happens next in their story.

In our example one group decides to put on the extra clothing that they had packed, and to walk quickly to keep themselves warm. I tell them that this works well and they are able to continue up the mountain at a good pace, despite the harsh environment.

You then read the second part in italics, which states: If they have some good ideas, gain a mile of progress.

That means that every group that came up with a good idea moves forward one mile. Students should keep a record of their progress as they play the game. Students gain or lose progress throughout the adventure, depending on how well they solve problems together.

Now that they’ve seen an example, hand out the worksheet and two dice to each group. Students take turns being the storyteller, passing the worksheet and dice clockwise after each turn. Students shouldn’t repeat the same event twice, so any repeated numbers on the dice should be re-rolled.

It’s important that the storyteller stays quiet and listens to the group when they’re discussing their plan. This has the side benefit of preventing one student from dominating every decision. Once every student has had at least three turns as storyteller, bring the game to a close.

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